Speaker Ryan Continues Push for More Immigration, More Foreign Workers Despite Millions of Americans Still Unemployed or Underemployed

MILWAUKEE, May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) launched TV ads today in Milwaukee asking Speaker Paul Ryan to stand up for working class Americans instead of continuing his push for more foreign workers, more immigration and amnesty for illegal aliens. The ad features civil rights leader and former Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Executive Director Frank Morris who reminds Speaker Ryan that slowing mass immigration and the flow of foreign workers so working class Americans have a better chance at good paying jobs is simple common sense. The ads are scheduled to run for weeks in the Milwaukee area.

"Speaker Ryan says we have a labor shortage in America. How can he say that when thousands in his own state still can't find good paying jobs? How can he say that when Wisconsin recently had one of the highest black unemployment rates in the country and Milwaukee has been called one of the worst places to live in American if you're black?" asked Frank Morris, civil rights leader and member of Californians for Population Stabilization. "Does Speaker Ryan think the people in his own state aren't good enough to do American jobs?"

The unemployment rate in Speaker Ryan's district is higher than the national average in five of the six counties in his district. Racine County was highest in March with an unemployment rate of 6.1%. The Center on Wisconsin Strategy in its State of Working Wisconsin 2015 report found that Wisconsin had the highest unemployment rate for African-Americans in the nation. COWS' next report is due out this Labor Day. Wisconsin has been called the worst place in America to be black. And Milwaukee has been called the worst city for Black Americans.

"Speaker Ryan has made a career of giving good paying American jobs away to foreign workers. How would he feel if his job were given away?" asked Morris.

Speaker Ryan has pushed for increases in immigration and amnesty for illegal aliens throughout his career. In 1996, Paul Ryan, working as legislative director for Senator Sam Brownback, was instrumental in stopping Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's bi-partisan push to slow immigration. In 2002 Congressman Ryan voted to legalize illegal aliens. In 2009 he co-sponsored a bill that would have legalized foreign workers here illegally. In 2013, Ryan advocated for the Obama, Rubio, Schumer Gang of Eight immigration legislation that would have legalized millions of illegal aliens and dramatically increased immigration. As Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan just last year fought to include a provision in the omnibus bill that expanded the number of low-skilled foreign workers allowed into the country, saying American companies would shut down without more foreign workers.

Speaker Ryan's push for more immigration and foreign workers affects all working class Americans, Hispanics, blacks and whites, whether in Wisconsin or California. But working class Californians are disproportionately affected by immigration policy since the state is one of the top destinations for those immigrating to the U.S.